PUC

The state’s Public Utilities Commission will consider a request on Friday to extend the winter moratorium on shutting off utilities.

The George Wiley Center is a non-profit that advocates for the poor. It has asked the PUC to extend the moratorium from April 15th to May 1st. The George Wiley Center’s Debbie Clark said April is just too early to cut off the heat.

The public is invited to comment Tuesday on a proposed rate increase by the Providence Water Supply Board. Because Providence sells its water to other municipalities, the rate increase would affect residents in nearly 60 percent of the state.

It’s the first rate hike in four years, and for city residents it means a 24 percent increase. The water board says that’s an additional $6.00 for the average customer.

For the cities of Warwick and East Providence, and for the Kent County and Bristol County water authorities, rates would go up 32 percent.